Square Napoléon 1870

Curator: Let's discuss Honoré Daumier’s lithograph, "Square Napoléon," currently housed at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: Its somber mood strikes me immediately—a series of tombstones under a heavy, clouded sky. It’s quite bleak. Curator: Daumier utilizes stark contrasts and dense cross-hatching to build texture and depth within a limited grayscale palette. Editor: Absolutely, and the tombstones themselves are inscribed with places like "Sedan" and "Cayenne," hinting at the casualties of war and political repression. This underscores the human cost of Napoleon's ambitions. Curator: The arrangement of the tombstones emphasizes repetition and symmetry, creating a visually compelling, almost oppressive effect. Editor: It's a powerful visual statement about loss, really, and the ways in which political power impacts everyday lives, both then and now. Curator: A truly striking commentary conveyed through skillful artistic execution. Editor: Indeed, Daumier's work urges us to confront uncomfortable truths about power and its consequences.